Sunshine Protection Act, PAR Act and Farm Bill remain in play as Congress heads toward the midterm elections
By Ronnie Miles | NGCOA’s Senior Director of Advocacy
With the midterm elections approaching and Congress running short on legislative days, the window for action on several golf-related priorities is narrowing. Three issues in particular remain worth watching for golf course owners and operators, with potential implications for participation, financing, research, conservation and day-to-day operations.
Sunshine Protection Act: Attention Turns to the Senate
Following House passage of the Sunshine Protection Act by a bipartisan 308-117 vote, attention has shifted to the Senate. While the compressed congressional calendar makes action before the election increasingly difficult, a post-election lame-duck session could provide another opportunity.
Opinions within the golf industry differ on ending the twice-a-year clock change, but there is strong support for permanent daylight saving time over permanent standard time. For golf facilities, preserving evening daylight can have a direct impact on participation, operations and revenue by providing more playable hours later in the day.
NGCOA continues communicating with senators about the importance of evening daylight to the golf industry as lawmakers consider the legislation’s path forward.
PAR Act: Looking for Another Legislative Path
The path forward for the Parity for Athletic Recreation Act is increasingly likely to run through a broader tax or year-end legislative package rather than standalone passage.
The legislation would correct an inequity in the federal tax code that prevents golf courses and country clubs from accessing certain tax-exempt financing available to other recreational facilities. Expanding access to those financing tools could provide golf facilities with additional options when investing in infrastructure and other capital improvements.
With standalone passage increasingly unlikely this year, NGCOA and allied golf organizations are focused on building congressional support and identifying opportunities to include PAR Act provisions in a broader legislative package.
Farm Bill: Golf’s Interests Extend Beyond the Course
The Farm Bill remains an active congressional priority, with the current authorization approaching expiration. While golf may not immediately come to mind when discussing federal agricultural policy, the legislation includes programs with meaningful implications for course owners and operators.
Turfgrass research, conservation, water efficiency and related programs can influence how golf facilities manage resources, adopt new practices and address long-term operational challenges. The Farm Bill also provides an opportunity to reinforce golf’s role within the broader agricultural, environmental and plant-science communities.
NGCOA is monitoring negotiations and working with golf industry partners to protect and expand federal policies supporting these areas.
With few legislative days remaining, none of these issues has a guaranteed path forward. But a potential lame-duck session and broader year-end legislative packages could still provide opportunities for golf’s priorities to advance before the next Congress convenes. NGCOA will continue working with lawmakers and allied organizations to ensure the business interests of golf course owners and operators are represented as those decisions take shape.
If you have any questions, you can contact me at rmiles@ngcoa.org for assistance.
